Separable fastener

ABSTRACT

A separable fastener for releasably connecting spaced ends of a flexible member, such as a neck chain, comprising a first, substantially flat member having a lateral undulation with an elongate cutout extending into said undulation and with a flat leaf spring secured to the undersurface of said member, and a second key-like member having a transverse bar at its extremity, said bar being adapted to be forced through said cutout against the action of the leaf spring and then manipulatable so as to position said transverse bar within said undulation to interconnect said first and second members.

United States Patent 11 1 DAngelo et a1.

[ SEPARABLE FASTENER [76] lnventors: Albert DAngelo, 178 Old County Rd, Esmond, R1 02917; Jack E.

Smith, Greenville Post Office, Glocester, R1 02828 22 Filed: Oct. 15, 1974 [21] App1.No.: 515,102

[52] US. Cl. 24/201 EN [51] Int. C1. A44B 17/00 [58] Field of Search 24/201 BN, 201 S, 201 R, 24/201 A, 252 B, 231, 236

Bangs 24/201 BN Winkler .t 24/201 BN Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or FirmSa1ter & Michaelson [57] ABSTRACT A separable fastener for releasably connecting spaced ends of a flexible member, such as a neck chain, comprising a first, substantially flat member having a lateral undulation with an elongate cutout extending into said undulation and with a flat leaf spring secured to the undersurface of said member, and a second keylike member having a transverse bar at its extremity, said bar being adapted to be forced through said cutout against the action of the leaf spring and then ma nipulatable so as to position said transverse bar within said undulation to interconnect said first and second members.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SEPARABLE FASTENER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Where it is desired to releasably interconnect spaced ends of a flexible member, such as link chain used for necklaces and the like, it is necessary that the fastening means be of small size so as not to aesthetically detract from the appearance of the article, particularly where the article has a cosmetic significance, such as an article ofjewelry; and it is further necessary that the fastener be easily manipulatable, both to open and close, by touch or feel, since necklaces are frequently opened or closed by the wearer with the fastener located behind the wearers neck. In addition, the fastener must be so constructed as not to become inadvertently opened so as to result in undesirable disconnection of the chain or other flexible member. The present invention is designed to achieve all of these objectives; and while primarily adaptable for use in connection with articles of jewelry, it is obviously not limited thereto; but rather the fastener of the present invention may be used in any environment where it is desired to releasably connect spaced ends of a flexible member.

In the jewelry industry, the most common separable fastener heretofore used is the so-called spring ring comprising a ring-like member having a spring loaded jaw normally urged to closed position but manually openable against the action of the spring when it is desired to interconnect the end link of a chain to the ring. Due, however, to recent material shortages and increases in material prices, the conventional spring rings have not only become extremely expensive, but also have become in short supply. Another problem with the conventional spring ring is that manufacturing equipment for automatically producing and assembling such spring rings is both sophisticated and expensive.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a separable fastener which may form an adequate substitute for the conventional spring ring and which lends itself to automatic and economically feasible manufacture.

Another object is the provision of a separable fastener that may be effectively made of relatively small size so as not to aesthetically detract from the article with which it is associated, particularly where such article is a jewelry product.

Another object is the provision of a separable fastener that is easily opened and closed by touch or feel, whereby the fastener may effectively be manipulated by the user while the fastener is located behind the users neck.

Still another object is the provision of a separable fastener of the character described wherein a secure connection is achieved when the fastener is in its closed or connected condition, thus rendering it virtually impossible for the fastener to become inadvertently separated during use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the fastener of the present invention in its connected or operative position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the connected fastener;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

FIGS. 5 through 7 sequentially illustrate the manipulatable steps employed when connecting the two parts of the fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a separable fastener adapted to be used to releasably interconnect spaced ends of a flexible member, such as link chain 12, which may be a necklace chain, although obviously not limited thereto. The fastener 10 comprises two separate elements, namely, a first body member 14 and a second key-like member 16.

The body member 14, which is preferably a sheet metal stamping, such as of brass or the like, comprises an elongate body portion 18 having a lateral undulation 20 extending thereacross. An integral eye 22 is formed in said body to receive the end link 24 of chain 12. An elongate cutout 26 is blanked in the body 18, it being noted that said cutout begins at substantially the top of undulation 20 and then extends longitudinally along body 18, terminating short of the end of said body opposite from eye 22. Secured to the underside of body 18, as by rivet 28 in eye 22, is an elongated, flat leaf spring 30, it being noted that said spring has a width slightly less than the width of body 18 and a length just slightly less than the length of body 18, whereby said spring completely underlies cutout 26 and also covers the major open portion of undulation 20. In order to maintain spring 30 in proper alignment with body 18, a pair of downwardly extending integral lugs or ears 32 are provided on body 18, said lugs extending downwardly beyond opposite sides of spring 30 to prevent rotation thereof.

The key-like member 16 is also a flat metal stamping, preferably of brass, and comprises an enlarged portion 34 having eye 36 integrally extending therefrom for receiving the end link 38 of chain 12. Extending from enlarged portion 34 is an elongate shank 40 having a transverse bar 42 at its extremity. It is to be noted that the width of shank 40 is slightly less than the width of cutout 26, and it is to be further noted that the transverse length of bar 42 is substantially greater than the width of cutout 26. Also of dimensional importance is the fact that the transverse length of bar 42 is less than the length of cutout 26.

In operation and use, it will be understood that end link 24 is first secured to eye 22 so as to connect one end of the flexible chain 12 to the body member 14, while the opposite end link 38 of chain 12 is likewise connected to eye 36 of key-like member 16. In order to interconnect the members 14 and 16, the key-like member 16 is twisted, as illustrated in FIG. 5, so that the bar 42 may be forced through cutout 26 against the action of spring 30, it being noted that this is possible because the length of bar 42 is less than the length of cutout 26, and the thickness of the member 16 is significantly less than the width of said cutout. After the member 16 has been inserted as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is then twisted, as illustrated in FIG. 6, until the bar 42 extends transversely of the member 14, this being possible because of the fact that the width of shank 40 is less than the width of cutout 26. The member 16 is then manipulated so that the bar 42 is positioned within undulation 20, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and then is swung downwardly until it lies flat along the topside of member 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the members 14 and 16 are securely fastened to each other, since the bar 42 is captured within undulation 40 and is maintained therein by spring 30. Thus, it is virtually impossible for the members I4 and 16 to become accidentally detached, since detachment or separation can be accomplished only by reversing the specific sequential procedure illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7. Any pull or tension on chain 12 will not have a tendency to open the fastener 10, because said pull or tension will simply result in increased bearing between bar 42 and the wall 44 of undulation 20. Expressed differently, any pull or tension on chain 12 will be effectively resisted by the interconnection of bar 42 within undulation 20. However, when desired, the members 14 and 16 may be easily separated by reversing the sequential procedure illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, which detachment or separation may be effectively effected by touch or feel whereby it may be accomplished with the fastener located behind the wearer s neck.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A separable fastener adapted to releasably inte'rconnect spaced ends of a flexible chain or the like, comprising a first, elongate body member having means at one end thereof for receiving one end of said flexible chain, a laterally extending undulation in said body member adjacent said one end, there being a central cutout extending from substantially the top of said undulation and then along said body member toward the other end thereof, a leaf spring secured to the underside of said body member adjacent said one end and extending substantially beyond said undulation, said fastener further comprising a second elongate flat member, means at one end thereof for receiving another end of a flexible chain, said second member having adjacent its other end a flat shank the width of which is slightly less than the width of said cutout, and a laterally extending bar at the end of said shank with the length of said bar being greater than the width of said cutout but less than the length of same, whereby said second member may be releasably connected with said first member by twisting said shank and bar so that the bar extends lengthwise of said cutout whereby it may be forced through said cutout against the action of said spring, and then manipulating said bar so that it lies laterally within said undulation with said shank extending outwardly through said cutout and overlying said other end of said first member.

2. In the fastener of claim 1, said spring extending for substantially the length of said first member.

3. In the fastener of claim 2, said cutout terminating just short of said other end of said first member.

4. In the fastener of claim 3, the length of said cutout being just slightly greater than the length of said bar.

5. In the fastener of claim 2, said spring being substantially wider than said cutout.

6. In the fastener of claim I, said receiving means at said one end of said first member comprising an eye having a rivet secured therein, said rivet securing said leaf spring to said first body member.

7. In the fastener of claim 6, said first body member having integral ears extending downwardly from opposite sides thereof to prevent rotation of said spring relative to said first body member.

. 8. In the fastener of claim 1, said second member having an enlarged portion adjacent said one end thereof, said second member having the general configurati on of a key.

9. In the fastener of claim 8, said receiving means in said second member comprising an eye therein. 

1. A separable fastener adapted to releasably interconnect spaced ends of a flexible chain or the like, comprising a first, elongate body member having means at one end thereof for receiving one end of said flexible chain, a laterally extending undulation in said body member adjacent said one end, there being a central cutout extending from substantially the top of said undulation and then along said body member toward the other end thereof, a leaf spring secured to the underside of said body member adjacent said one end and extending substantially beyond said undulation, said fastener further comprising a second elongate flat member, means at one end thereof for receiving another end of a flexible chain, said second member having adjacent its other end a flat shank the width of which is slightly less than the width of said cutout, and a laterally extending bar at the end of said shank with the length of said bar being greater than the width of said cutout but less than the length of same, whereby said second member may be releasably connected with said first member by twisting said shank and bar so that the bar extends lengthwise of said cutout whereby it may be forced through said cutout against the action of said spring, and then manipulating said bar so that it lies laterally within said undulation with said shank extending outwardly through said cutout and overlying said other end of said first member.
 2. In the fastener of claim 1, said spring extending for substantially the length of said first member.
 3. In the fastener of claim 2, said cutout terminating just short of said other end of said first member.
 4. In the fastener of claim 3, the length of said cutout being just slightly greater than the length of said bar.
 5. In the fastener of claim 2, said spring being substantially wider than said cutout.
 6. In the fastener of claim 1, said receiving means at said one end of said first member comprising an eye having a rivet secured therein, said rivet securing said leaf spring to said first body member.
 7. In the fastener of claim 6, said first body member having integral ears extending downwardly from opposite sides thereof to prevent rotation of said spring relative to said first body member.
 8. In the fastener of claim 1, said second member having an enlarged portion adjacent said one end thereof, said sEcond member having the general configuration of a key.
 9. In the fastener of claim 8, said receiving means in said second member comprising an eye therein. 